Method and means for converting an automobile top into a one-man top



Nov. 20, 1923. 1,474,838

R. F. KLECKER METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE TOP INTO AONE MAN TOP Filed Julv E7 1921 Fatented Nov. 2%, M23,

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE TOP INTO A ONE-MAN TOP.

Application filed J'ulv 27, 1921. Serial No, 487,826.

To aZZ whom 2'5 may concern.

Be it known that I, RALPH F. Krinoirsn, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Los Angeles, California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means forConverting an Automobile Top into a ()ne-Man Top, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a simple and comparativelyinexpensive method and means for converting the well known four bow topsof automobiles into one man tops. It is particularly adapted to the Fordautomobile and is illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile body with a top embodyingmy in vention;

Figures 2 and 3 and 4, are side, edge and end views, respectively of onenew part used;

Figures 5 and 6 are details of new parts;

Figures 7 and 8 are views of a clip for attachment to the. rear bow.

In describing my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings,I will use the reference letter O with exponents in referring to oldparts, and the reference letter N, with exponent, in referring to newparts.

The well known type of top here illustrated, has the rear bows, O andthe front how, 0 the lower end of which is attached topins, 0*, at theside of the front seat, and the horizontal bow 0 The front bow O whichcomes down to the sides of the front seat interferes with the comfort ofthe persons occupying that seat, and particularly with the driver inusing his arm to give signals. I have conceived a very simple andcomparatively inexpensive method with means for converting this type oftop into the commonly known one man top, whereby the bows at the sidesof the front seat are done away with, as in the case of the regularlyconstructed one man tops.

I accomplish this by detaching the lower ends of the front bow 0 fromthe pins 0* at the sides of the front seat, and swinging the ends ofsaid bow O rearwardly and upwardly, and attaching it, by means of a clipN and bolt N to the bow 0 near the top thereof, as shown, the ends ofsaid bow 0 being pivotally connected to said clip, as at N whereby itcan turn in folding the top back, for my converted top can be readilyfolded, as will be clear from the showing made.

I provide a new bar N with a hole N, in one end thereof, which ispivotally connected with the lug 0 already on the front edge of how 0,and the other end of which bar is provided with a hook N, adapted to bedetachably hooked over the horizontal how 0 in the manner indicated, andat the same time be adapted to be flexed so as to be unhooked from saidhow and allowed to swing downwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in ig.1, when it is desired to fold the top back. Said bar N* is provided witha hole intermediate its ends, as at N", to which the ends of thehorizontal bow O are pivotally attached after they have been disconnected from the lug 0 on the how 0 Said bar N is also provided with alittle brace arm N which projects upwardly to engage and brace the bowO, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, the upper end of said arm Nresting in a little cup member 0 on the front edge of bow O 1 Thus thehorizontal how 0 and the front bow O are firmly connected together,eliminating the objection of having the front how 0 down at the oppositesides of the front seat, and at the same time they are so connected thatthe top can be readily folded back, as is a one man top.

In order to secure the front of the top, I provide two side rods, as N",with holes in their opposite ends, and with a clip, N intermediate theirends, for attaching said rods to the windshield. hinge, 0 The oppositeends of said rods N", are attached to the top and to the body by meansof bolts, 0 already used for other parts of the body.

Thus with a minimum of new parts, and with no reconstruction, I haveprovided a method and means for converting the well known four bow topinto a one man top which can be folded back when desired.

I claim:

1. In combination with the rear seat bow, the front seat bow and thefront or horizontal bow of a top, of a clip adapted to be attached tothe rear seat bow and having a pivot connection at the front edge ofsaid rear seat bow to receive the end of the front seat bow, a barpivotally connected at one end to the edge of said front seat bow in itsraised position and having a hook at its 0pposite end adapted to hookover the top of the front or horizontal bow, the end of said horizontalbow being pivotally connected to said bar intermediate its ends, wherebywhen the hooked end of said bar is sprung off of said horizontal bar,the end of said horizontal bar can swing downwardly, and a stud on saidbar projecting upwardly in position to engage the front seat bowforwardly of the pivotal connection to the end of said bar, whereby tobrace said parts, substantially as decribed.

2. In combination with the rear and front vertical bows, and thehorizontal bow of a top, said front vertical bow having a pivot lug onits front edge to connect with the ends of the horizontal bow, of meansfor raising the front vertical bow comprising a pair of pivot clipsattachable to the rear vertical bow with their pivot eyes at the frontedges of said rear vertical how, a pair of bars pivotally connected attheir ends to the pivot lugs on the front edge'of said front verticalbow and at their opposite ends provided with hooks adapted to hook overthe tops of the opposite sides of the horizontal bow, and pivotallyconnected intermediate their ends to the ends of said horizontal bow,and brace studs between said bars and the front vertical bow.

Signed at Los Angeles Los Angeles County, California, this 22nd day ofJuly,

RALPH F. KLECKER.

Witnesses: \V. R. LITZENBERG, H. M. BRUNDAGE.

